Interview with Iutian Tsai

Iutian Tsai ("IT") interviewed on Tuesday, 17 November.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

IT : I have been engaged in artistic creation for nearly 30 years. 2020 ART TAIPEI Taipei International Art Fair Dahe Art Gallery booth exhibition. The 2020 winning works are exhibited at del Design-Via Bellinzona, MOOD Design Museum, Italy. 2020 International Design Competition A' Design Award and Competition Platinum winner in Public Art 2020 Paris, France MOM maison & objet and more international art exhibition selected 2019 Guest Committee-Romantic Terrace 3rd Line Zhangzhixi Road, Shitan Section, Artistic Art Director Industrial Technology Research Institute. 2008 Special Artistic Director of "Taipei Flower Expo Dream Hall Exhibition Space Planning" The head of the master plan of the "Hsinchu County Community Planner Seed Training and Organizational Plan".

How did you become a designer?

IT : Since childhood, I have always loved art as an expression of nature. After I grew up, and found it was impossible to truly mimic the emotion and power of nature, I began to realize that people are touched by nature because of its intangible energy, rather than its actual color and shape. Thus, I would like to transfer the invisible energy of nature into visible art works. By creating public artwork based on this principle, I can share my feelings, inspired by the natural world, with all observers of and in the world.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

IT : Solve important problems, solve beautifully, and at the same time be enlightening.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

IT : I can feel the flow of inner energy and the interactions with the universe.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

IT : I live in Taiwan and have been deeply influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy and culture. At the same time, I have been exposed to the beauty of ancient Chinese art.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

IT : I would like to do more public art works. I always feel our modern lifestyle gives people more stress and negative energy because we are far away from nature. I am focusing on creating positive energy and strong aura for the environment to purify and comfort people’s spirits.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

IT : I think that young designers should pay attention to what touches their heart in daily lives, pass the positive energy to other people. The most important goal for young designers is to find a specific issue they want to figure out for the world and help people see the beauty of lives.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

IT : I would like to help people to see the bound between the nature and human beings; at the same time, I can use my works to change people’s perspectives about life.

What is your day to day look like?

IT : I will meditate once I get up, and I spend time companying with my kids. If I have time, I will take a walk to the forest nearby my house or to the old town in order to look for ideas.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

IT : I will consider whether this design inspire people and the environment or not.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

IT : Good design is inspiring people and aesthetic.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

IT : I get inspiration from the nature, and I would like to transfer the invisible aura into concrete art works.

What is your biggest design work?

IT : My works : “Flow With the Spirit of Water” Iutian Tsai’s artworks have a transformative function. He sets out to alter the negative charge of an environment by introducing cradles of positive energetic vibrations through the balance, harmony and flow of his sculptures. Often community environments are polluted by the inter- and intrapersonal dissonances of their inhabitants which results in visible and invisible chaos in the surroundings. The unconscious effect of this disorder is that inhabitants regress into restlessness. This habitual and cyclical agitation influences body, mind and spirit. Iutian Tsai’s series of work, “Flow with the spirit of water”, guide, groom, purify and strengthen the positive “chi” of a space, focusing on pleasant and peaceful outcomes. With a subtle shift in their environment, the public is guided towards a balance between their inner and external realities, and are allowed to rest there.

Who is your favourite designer?

IT : The man who created nature.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

IT : Mornings and evenings inspire me the most. I take a walk in the forest and observe the changing of light, temperature, smell, sound and etc... Life is full of pressure and depression. And combined with the tangible and intangible effects of negative energy from the environment, people are often inexplicably irritable. For that reason I often think about what effect my work has and whether it would make people feel comfortable and happy. If my sculptures can guide, purify and enhance the positive “qi” in the atmosphere, it can help heal and create harmony and calm. My wish is that people will not only use their eyes to see the artwork, but also use their hearts to experience its invisible energy. Just imagine: If we remove the wood of a sculpture, or the stone, or the stainless steel, if we could remove all the tangible material - it would be like taking away all our distracting thoughts of fame, wealth and attachment. Even the body can be emptied. Only when our hearts are relaxed and empty can energy flow freely. I was inspired by the words of Teacher Jiang Meng: "Water is the spirit and jade is the soul." A spirit of water is one of continuous flow. With its environment constantly changing, the energy of water is endless. A jade soul is like a raw mineral that has been tested by high temperature and pressure, moisturized by water and tempered finally to bring about transformation into a beautiful jade gemstone. Perhaps I am driven by an uncompromising resistance to admit defeat. If the environment is not good, I will find a way to beautify it. Life is hard, and I want to find a way to get rid of suffering. After winning the award, Mr. Jiang Xun reminded me of Zhuangzi’s words: Clever people busy themselves with work. Intelligent people worry. But the ignorant ask for nothing - they feast and drift through life, rudderless. If there is any value in art, I think it should be to awaken in the world a call to return to a pure heart.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

IT : Community empowerment. I strongly felt the connection between people and the earth at that time. This kind of life experience will help us to find the roots of lives.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

IT : I would like to help people to see the bound between the nature and human beings; at the same time, I can use my works to change people’s perspectives about life.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

IT : Since I live in Taiwan, Chinese philosophy has had a great impact on me, especially in lao zi , zhuang zi and Buddhist culture. I majored in Chinese brush painting in university, so I had absorbed the aesthetics of Chinese art works. The material of my sculptures is stainless steel. My works combine western form and east spirit.

Iutian Tsai Profile